Bryn Seiont was originally due to close in May next year

A man whose terminally-ill father is being moved from a hospital against his family's wishes says health chiefs are putting financial cuts before care.

Samuel Gwilym Thomas, 72, from Llannor near Pwllheli, is the final patient at Bryn Seiont hospital in Caernarfon. It is closing on Thursday and Mr Thomas will be moved to another hospital a mile away.

His family accuse the North West Wales Health Trust of placing financial needs before the best care for Mr Thomas.

But the health trust says it has no choice since there are not enough staff to keep Bryn Seiont open.

Nobody's thinking about my father's condition...all the health trust are thinking about is closing the hospital Gruff Thomas

Mr Thomas is suffering from cancer and has been in the Macmillan palliative care unit at Bryn Seiont since May.

Bryn Seiont is an old building and the intention was to close it as soon as a new extension was completed at nearby Eryri Hospital.

But the trust says that staff shortages has forced the immediate closure of Bryn Seiont.

'Concern'

The other patients have moved to Eryri Hospital some weeks ago and Mr Thomas is the last patient left at Bryn Seiont.

"I've been fighting about this since September but in the end they say we have no choice," said Mr Thomas's son, Gruff Thomas.

We understand the family's concerns but we've had staffing problems recently Alan Parry, NWW Trust spokesman

"My mother's got plenty to worry about with his condition, without having to face this."

"Nobody's thinking about my father's condition, all they the health trust are thinking about is closing the hospital," he added.

The trust says the new unit at Eryri Hospital will not be open before next summer.

It says it sympathises with Mr Thomas' family but he will have to be moved on Thursday.

"Of course we understand the family's concerns but we have had staffing problems recently," said Alan Parry, spokesman for the trust.

"There's only one patient left at Bryn Seiont and of course we need staff there 24 hours a day, " he said. "At night, especially, the hospital is nearly empty and that is of concern to us.

"Now staff illness has meant that we have to move the patient to Eryri, which is less than a mile away."